Heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade

ABSTRACT

A heat sink includes a base, a heat sink base, a bearing, a rotor, and a stator. The base includes a heat conduction plate and a support pillar disposed on the heat conduction plate. The heat sink base includes a support plate and heat sink fins disposed on the support plate. The support plate is correspondingly disposed over the heat conduction plate, and a gap is formed between the support plate and the heat conduction plate. A bearing is disposed between the support pillar and the heat sink base. A rotor is disposed on the heat sink base, the stator is disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on the base. The heat sink base rotates with respect to the support pillar by an electromagnetic effect between the rotor and the stator.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air-cooled heat sink and, in particular, to a heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade.

2. Related Art

As technical advancements increase the speed of computer CPUs, the computer and peripheral electrical components are generally equipped with heat sinks, so as to dissipate heat generated during operations of the electrical components.

A conventional heat sink apparatus mainly includes a heat sink fan and a heat sink member. The heat sink member includes a plurality of heat sink fins attached on heat-generating elements. Furthermore, the heat sink fan is disposed on the heat sink member, and fan blades generate airflow which flows to the heat sink fins, so as to quickly dissipate the heat transferred to the heat sink fins from the electrical components.

However, the conventional heat sink fan generally has a rotational center, and the rotational center is stuck from time to time due to the carbide generated by frictions on bearing oil and rubber at high temperature, thereby resulting in that the heat sink fan is unable to rotate, and the heat sink member cannot dissipate heat efficiently as expected. Moreover, along with the development of compact, light and thin electronic apparatuses, an inner space of the computer housing is getting small, so the heat sink apparatuses have to be made as thin as possible. Therefore, the inventor is motivated to provide a thin-type heat sink by combining the heat sink fan and the heat sink member while required heat dissipation efficiency is also achieved.

In view of the foregoing, the inventor made various studies to improve the above-mentioned problems efficiently, on the basis of which the present invention is accomplished.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade, so as to simplify a structure of the heat sink and to prolong a lifespan of the heat sink.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a heat sink having a heat sink fin that is also a fan blade, the heat sink comprising:

a base including a heat conduction plate and a support pillar disposed on the heat conduction plate;

a heat sink base including a support plate and a plurality of heat sink fins disposed on the support plate, the support plate being correspondingly disposed over the heat conduction plate, a gap being formed between the support plate and the heat conduction plate;

a bearing disposed between the support pillar and the heat sink base;

a rotor disposed on the heat sink base; and

a stator disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on the base, an air gap being formed between the rotor and the stator, wherein the heat sink base is rotatable with respect to the support pillar by an electromagnetic effect between the rotor and the stator.

The support pillar is integrally formed with the heat conduction plate and extends from a center of the heat conduction plate.

The heat conduction plate includes at least one annular trench on one side of the heat conduction plate facing the support plate, and the support plate includes an annular plate, disposed corresponding to the annular trench, on one side of the support plate facing the heat conduction plate. The annular plate is inserted in the annular trench and is spaced above a bottom of the annular trench, so as to achieve the tightness between the base and the heat sink base to prevent objects or dust from falling into the gap and thereby maintain good operation and heat dissipation efficiency.

The heat sink fins are circularly disposed around the support pillar, the heat sink fins form an accommodation room, the rotor is disposed in the accommodation room, and the stator is disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on the support pillar.

The heat sink base extends from the heat conduction plate to form a hollow tube in the accommodation room, and the bearing is closely disposed between an inner wall surface of the hollow tube and an outer circumferential surface of the support pillar.

The rotor is a permanent magnetic set, the stator is a coil set, the rotor disposed in the accommodation room is at one side thereof away from the support plate, and the stator is fixed at one side of the support pillar away from the heat conduction plate, so as to prevent heat of heat-generating elements from being transferred to the rotor or the stator to reduce a lifespan of the rotor or the stator.

The bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rollers rollably disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the inner ring is fixed on the support pillar of the base, the outer ring is fixed on the heat sink base, and the inner ring is rotatable with respect to the outer ring to enable the heat sink base to be rotatable on the base.

The heat sink fins are spaced from one another and arranged in a whirlpool shape.

The base is a vapor chamber, and the vapor chamber includes a planar plate which forms the heat conduction plate and a straight tube which forms the support pillar.

The heat sink base further includes a cap engaged with the support pillar, and the stator is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the cap.

The cap encloses the bearing.

The rotor is disposed on one side of the support plate facing the heat conduction plate, and the stator is disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on one side of the heat conduction plate facing the support plate.

The support plate is disposed over the support pillar and covers the same.

Compared with the conventional techniques, the heat sink base of the present invention is movably connected on the base by means of the bearing. In addition, the rotor and the stator are correspondingly disposed on the heat sink base and the base, respectively. After the stator is electrically connected, an electromagnetic field is generated to enable interaction between the stator and the rotor, thereby rotating the heat sink base with respect to the base. The heat sink base rotates with respect to the support pillar to generate forced airflow. Compared with the conventional heat sink, the heat sink of the present invention has a simple structure, whereby a rotational center of a fan is omitted, and the heat sink base is connected on the support pillar by means of the bearing. By means of the support pillar, the present invention can prevent abrasion that tends to occur on a bearing of a conventional fan, and thereby a lifespan of the heat sink is prolonged, and the utility of the present invention is enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a perspective exploded view of a heat sink having a heat sink fin that is also a fan blade according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective appearance view of the heat sink having the heat sink fin that is also the fan blade according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the heat sink in combination with a housing, the heat sink having the heat sink fin that is also the fan blade.

FIG. 4 shows a heat sink base according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a heat sink having a heat sink fin that is also a fan blade according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the heat sink having the heat sink fin that is also the fan blade according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of a heat sink having a heat sink fin that is also a fan blade according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the heat sink having the heat sink fin that is also the fan blade according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, detailed descriptions along with accompanied drawings are given to better explain the features and technical contents of the present invention. However, the following descriptions and the accompanied drawings are for reference and illustration only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are a perspective exploded view, a perspective appearance view, and a cross-sectional view of a heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade according to the present invention. A heat sink 1, having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade, comprises a base 10, a heat sink base 20, a bearing 30, a rotor 40, and a stator 50. The heat sink base 20 is connected on the base 10. The bearing 30 is disposed between the base 10 and the heat sink base 20. The heat sink base 20 is rotatable with respect to the base 10 by means of the bearing 30. The rotor 40 and the stator 50 are disposed corresponding to each other. The rotor 40 and the stator 50 are disposed on the heat sink base 20 or the base 10 respectively or vice versa.

The base 10 includes a heat conduction plate 11 and a support pillar 12 disposed on the heat conduction plate 11. The heat sink base 20 includes a support plate 21 and a plurality of heat sink fins 22 disposed on the support plate 21. The support plate 21 is correspondingly disposed over the heat conduction plate 11, and a gap 200 is formed between the support plate 21 and the heat conduction plate 11. The heat sink fins 22 are circularly disposed around the support pillar 12. The bearing 30 is disposed between the support pillar 12 and the heat sink base 20. To be specific, the gap 200 is formed between the base 10 and the heat sink base 20 by disposing the bearing 30. According to the present embodiment, the bearing 30 includes an inner ring 31, an outer ring 32, and a plurality of rollers 33 rollably disposed between the inner ring 31 and the outer ring 32. The rollers 33 are, for example, rolling balls or rolling pillars. The inner ring 31 is fixed on the support pillar 12 of the base 10, the outer ring 32 is fixed on the heat sink base 20, and the inner ring 31 is rotatable with respect to the outer ring 32 to enable the heat sink base 20 to be rotatable on the base 10.

Moreover, the rotor 40 is disposed on the heat sink base 20, the stator 50 is disposed corresponding to the rotor 40 and fixed on the base 10, and an air gap 500 is formed between the rotor 40 and the stator 50.

The support pillar 12 is integrally formed with the heat conduction plate 11 and extends from a center of the heat conduction plate 11. The heat conduction plate 11 includes at least one annular trench 111 on one side of the heat conduction plate 11 facing the support plate 21, and the support plate 21 includes an annular plate 211, disposed corresponding to the annular trench, on one side of the support plate 21 facing the heat conduction plate 11. Accordingly, when the heat sink base 20 is connected to the base 10, the annular plate 211 inserted in the annular trench 111 is spaced above a bottom of the annular trench 111. By this arrangement, the tightness between the base 10 and the heat sink base 20 can be achieved to prevent objects or dust from falling into the gap 200 between the base 10 and the heat sink base 20, thereby maintaining good operation and heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink 1.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the heat sink fins 22 are spaced from one another and arranged in a whirlpool shape. The heat sink fins 22 form an accommodation room 220, the rotor 40 is disposed in the accommodation room 220, and the stator 50 is disposed corresponding to the rotor 40 and fixed on the support pillar 12.

The arrangement of the bearing 30 is detailed as follows. The heat sink base 20 extends from the heat conduction plate 11 to form a hollow tube 23 in the accommodation room 220, and the bearing 30 is closely disposed between an inner wall surface of the hollow tube 23 and an outer circumferential surface of the support pillar 12. In the present embodiment, the bearing 30 is disposed at one side of the support pillar 12 nearer to the heat conduction plate 11.

According to the present embodiment, the rotor 40 is a permanent magnetic set, the stator 50 is a coil set, the rotor 40 disposed in the accommodation room 220 is at one side thereof away from the support plate 21, and the stator 50 is fixed at one side of the support pillar 12 away from the heat conduction plate 11.

The heat sink 1 of the present invention is used to dissipate heat of a heat-generating element. In practical applications, the heat conduction plate 11 of the heat sink 1 is attached on a heat-generating element (not illustrated), and an external power source is connected to the stator 50. After the stator 50 is electrically connected, an electromagnetic field is generated to enable interaction between the stator 50 and the rotor 40, thereby rotating the heat sink base 20 with respect to the base 10. That is to say, the heat sink base 20 rotates with respect to the support pillar 12 by the electromagnetic effect between the rotor 40 and the stator 50, the heat sink base 20 rotates with respect to the support pillar 12 by means of the bearing 30, and accordingly the heat sink fins 22 of the heat sink base 20 are driven to rotate to generate forced airflow.

The reason why the stator 50 is fixed at one side of the support pillar 12 away from the heat conduction plate 11 is that this arrangement can prevent the heat of the heat-generating element from being transferred to the rotor 40 or the stator 50. By this arrangement, the heat of the heat-generating element exerts the least influence on the stator 50 (the coil set), thereby prolonging a lifespan of the stator 50.

Please refer to FIG. 4 which shows the heat sink according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the base 10′ is a vapor chamber, and the vapor chamber includes a planar plate which forms the heat conduction plate 11′ and a straight tube which forms the support pillar 12′. The vapor chamber is a heat transfer structure, and an inner structure of the vapor chamber includes a working fluid, a capillary structure, a supporting structure, and other elements which are well known to persons having ordinary skills in this art, so related descriptions thereof are not repeated herein. Using the vapor chamber to be the base 10′ of the present invention can enhance the heat transfer efficiency of the base 10′ and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink.

Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6 which are a perspective exploded view and a cross-sectional view, showing a heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a heat sink la includes base 10 a, a heat sink base 20 a, a bearing 30 a, a rotor 40 a, and a stator 50 a. The heat sink base 20 a is connected on the base 10 a, the bearing 30 a is disposed between the base 10 a and the heat sink base 20 a, and the heat sink base 20 a is rotatable with respect to the base 10 a by means of the bearing 30 a. The rotor 40 a and the stator 50 a are disposed corresponding to each other, and are disposed on the heat sink base 20 a or the base 10 a respectively or vice versa. Furthermore, the base 10 a includes a heat conduction plate 11 a and a support pillar 12 a. The heat sink base 20 a includes a support plate 21 a and a plurality of heat sink fins 22 a.

Compared with the first embodiment, the present embodiment is different in that the bearing 30 a disposed on the support pillar 12 a is disposed a distance away from the heat conduction plate 11 a. Furthermore, the heat sink base 20 a further includes a cap 25 a engaged with the support pillar 12 a, and the stator 50 a is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the cap 25 a. Preferably, the cap 25 a encloses the bearing 30 a, so as to prevent undesired objects from falling into the bearing 30 a to affect normal operations thereof.

Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8 which are a perspective exploded view and a cross-sectional view of a heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the heat sink 1 b includes a base 10 b, a heat sink base 20 b, a bearing 30 b, a rotor 40 b, and a stator 50 b. In addition, the base 10 b includes a heat conduction plate 11 b and a support pillar 12 b. The heat sink base 20 b includes a support plate 21 b and a plurality of heat sink fins 22 b.

Compared with the foregoing embodiments, the present embodiment is different in the positions of the rotor 40 b and the stator 50 b. According to the present embodiment, the rotor 40 b is disposed on one side of the support plate 21 b facing the heat conduction plate 11 b. In addition, the stator 50 b is disposed corresponding to the rotor 40 b and is fixed on one side of the heat conduction plate 11 b facing the support plate 21 b, and an air gap 500 b is formed between the rotor 40 b and the stator 50 b. The support plate 21 b is disposed on the support pillar 12 b and covers the same, and there is a space between the support plate 21 b and the support pillar 12 b. The heat sink fins 22 b are formed on one side of the support plate 21 b and are disposed over the support pillar 12 b.

It is to be understood that the above descriptions are merely preferable embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent changes and modifications made in the spirit of the present invention are regarded as falling within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat sink having an integrated heat sink fin and fan blade, comprising: a base including a heat conduction plate and a support pillar disposed on the heat conduction plate; a heat sink base including a support plate and a plurality of heat sink fins disposed on the support plate, the support plate being correspondingly disposed over the heat conduction plate, a gap being formed between the support plate and the heat conduction plate; a bearing disposed between the support pillar and the heat sink base; a rotor disposed on the heat sink base; and a stator disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on the base, an air gap being formed between the rotor and the stator, wherein the heat sink base is rotatable with respect to the support pillar by an electromagnetic effect between the rotor and the stator.
 2. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the support pillar is integrally formed with the heat conduction plate and extends from a center of the heat conduction plate.
 3. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the heat conduction plate includes at least one annular trench on one side of the heat conduction plate facing the support plate, and the support plate includes an annular plate, disposed corresponding to the annular trench, on one side of the support plate facing the heat conduction plate.
 4. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the heat sink fins are circularly disposed around the support pillar, the heat sink fins form an accommodation room, the rotor is disposed in the accommodation room, and the stator is disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on the support pillar.
 5. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 4, wherein the heat sink base extends from the heat conduction plate to form a hollow tube in the accommodation room, and the bearing is closely disposed between an inner wall surface of the hollow tube and an outer circumferential surface of the support pillar.
 6. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 4, wherein the rotor is a permanent magnetic set, the stator is a coil set, the rotor disposed in the accommodation room is at one side thereof away from the support plate, and the stator is fixed at one side of the support pillar away from the heat conduction plate.
 7. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rollers rollably disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the inner ring is fixed on the support pillar of the base, the outer ring is fixed on the heat sink base, and the inner ring is rotatable with respect to the outer ring to enable the heat sink base to be rotatable on the base.
 8. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the heat sink fins are spaced from one another and arranged in a whirlpool shape.
 9. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the base is a vapor chamber, and the vapor chamber includes a planar plate which forms the heat conduction plate and a straight tube which forms the support pillar.
 10. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the heat sink base further includes a cap engaged with the support pillar, and the stator is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the cap.
 11. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 10, wherein the cap encloses the bearing.
 12. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 1, wherein the rotor is disposed on one side of the support plate facing the heat conduction plate, and the stator is disposed corresponding to the rotor and fixed on one side of the heat conduction plate facing the support plate.
 13. The heat sink having the integrated heat sink fin and fan blade of claim 12, wherein the support plate is disposed over the support pillar and covers the same. 